Self-closing valve for collapsible tubes, bottles, and the like



Sept. 17,1935. K. s AR STRQM 2,014,881

SELF CLOSINQ 'VALVE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES, BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 13, 1934 .Figl. Fig. 2.

KnuT S. CorIsTrom b /wa W&W ATTys.

Patented Sept. 17, 1935 PATENT. oFFcs SELF-CLOSING VALVE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Knut S. Carlstrom, Watertown, Mass.

Application September 13, 1934, Serial No. 743,862

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a self-closing valve adapted to be used in connection with a collapsible tube or bottle or a similar container. When applied to a collapsible tube, such as is commonly employed for holding tooth paste, shaving cream and similar material, the valve is constructed to permit the discharge of the contents of the tube when the latter is squeezed and to automatically close the egress opening when the pressure is released.

As applied to a bottle the invention provides a novel and inexpensive valve which will normally close the opening in the neck of the bottle but I which can be easily manipulated so as to permit discharge of the contents of the bottle.

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated in the drawing some selected embodiments thereof which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. l is a partial sectional view showing my invention as it might be applied to a collapsible tube;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a slightly different embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the invention as it might be applied to a bottle.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section showing a different embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, l indicates a collapsible tube such as is commonly used for packaging tooth paste, shaving cream and similar material, said tube having the usual screw-threaded neck 2.

3 indicates a neck extension provided with my improved self-closing valve. This neck extension is formed at one end with the recess having the interior screw threads 5, said recess and screw threads being constructed to have screw-threaded engagement with the neck 2 of the collapsible tube I. The neck extension is provided with the egress duct 6 which communicates at one end with the cavity 3 and the other end of which opens through the side wall of the neck extension as shown at l.

8 indicates a sleeve of rubber or similar elastic material which surrounds and snugly fits the body of the neck extension 3, said sleeve normally overlying and closing the end i of the egress duct 5.

When it is desired to discharge some of the contents from the collapsible tube 1 the latter may be squeezed as usual and the pressure thus applied to the collapsible tube will force the contents thereof through the duct 6 and out belapsi'ble tube.

means for lockingthe .valve closed.

tween the end of the neck extension and the sleeve 8. The elasticity of the sleeve 8 permits such discharge of the contents of the tube when pressure is applied thereto.

When the pressure is released the elasticity of the sleeve 8 causes the latter to tightly hug the neck extension 3 and thereby closes the open end i of the egress duct 6.

In order to prevent discharge of the contents of the tube by reason of a pressure applied thereto 10 accidentally during shipment I may, if desired, employ a cap 9 which fits over the sleeve 8 and which, when in place, prevents the sleeve from expanding in case pressure is applied to the 001- The cap 9, therefore, serves as a The neck extension 3 is shown as having a portion 26 of enlarged diameter over which the inner end of the elastic tube 8 is stretched, and also as having a groove 2? behind the portion 26 adapted to receive a bead 28 formed on the inner end of the elastic sleeve. This construction provides means for retaining the sleeve 8 in place.

Another way of locking the valve closed is shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment of the invention the elastic sleeve 8 extends some distance beyond the exit end "I of the egress duct 6, and when it is desired to lock the valve closed so as to prevent accidental discharge of the contents of the tube the end it of the sleeve may be 30 folded back on itself as shown by dotted lines. By so doing there will be two plies or layers of the elastic material overlying the exit end i of the egress duct 6 and the pressure thus provided by this double thickness is sufficient to prevent the discharge of any of the contents of the tube.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the invention as it might be applied to a bottle. In said figure, ll is the bottle and i2 is the neck portion thereof. This neck portion is closed at the side of the neck as shown at l4. I5 is a sleeve of rubber or similar material which surrounds the neck and which merely closes the egress duct it.

In order to discharge the contents from the bottle the end It of the sleeve I5 is folded back on itself to an extent sufficient to uncover the end I4 of the duct l3 as shown in dotted lines. When the desired quantity has been poured from the bottle then the sleeve may be unfolded or returned to its full line position thereby closing the egress duct.

Since the sleeve is elastic the elasticity thereof causes it to tightly fit the neck of the bottle and thus form a tight seal for the egress duct. 55

ll indicates a vent duct through which air may enter the bottle as the contents are poured out through the duct I3. This vent duct is normally closed by the sleeve l5 as shown in Fig. 3 but is open when the end N3 of. the sleeve is turned back to uncover the port 14.

In Fig. 4 I have shown an embodiment of the invention in which the elastic sleeve is applied directly to the neck of a collapsible tube. In this embodiment the collapsible tube, which is indicated at I8, is formed with the speciallyshaped neck l9 which is formed with the discharge duct 20, the latter opening through the side of the neck H! as shown at 2|. The elastic sleeve is indicated at 22 and it encloses the end of the neck l9 and normally covers the end 2| of the discharge duct 20. The neck is shown as provided with the portion 23 of enlarged diameter and with the external groove-24 into which fits a bead 25 on the inner end of the elastic sleeve 22, the body and groove providing a construction by which the sleeveis firmly held tothe neck The device shown in Fig. 4 functions the same as that shown in Fig. l. The elasticity of the sleeve 22 causes it to hug the neck l9 tightly thereby closing the discharge port 20 but when pressure is applied to the collapsible tube l8 the elastic sleeve 22 will give sufiiciently to allow the contents to be discharged between the sleeve and the neck.

In all forms of my invention the container is provided with a neck portion having an egress duct which opens at the side of the neck, and this duct is normally closed by an elastic sleeve which encircles the neck and which by its elasticity closes automatically the exit end of the egress-duct.

I claim:

1. A container having a neck portion formed with an egress duct, the exit end of which opens through the side of the neck, said neck portion also having an exterior groove and a portion of a large diameter between the groove and the exit end of the egress duct and an imperforate sleeve of elastic material encircling the neck and normally closing the egress duct, said sleeve embracing the portion of enlarged diameter and having at its inner end a bead which is received in said groove.

2. A container having a neck portion formed with an egress duct, the exit end of which opens through the side of the neck, an imperforate sleeve of elastic material encircling the neck and normally closing the egress duct, and a cap fitting tightly over the sleeve and clamping the portion thereof which closes said egress duct against the neck, said cap being removable for the discharge of the contents of the tube but when in place preventing such discharge by reason of accidental pressure applied to the tube.

3. A container having a neck portion formed with an egress duct, the exit end of which opens through the side of the neck, and an imperforate sleeve of elastic material encircling the neck and normally closing the egress duct, said sleeve extending beyond the exit end ofv the egress duct for a distance greater than the dimension of said exit end in an axial direction thereby producing a duct-sealing portion which when folded back on the body of the sleeve makes with said body a two-ply portion covering said exit end.

KNUT S. CARISTROM. 

